Spindle



SCPL 5, 1950 A. F, vlcToR 2,521,427

SPINDLE Filed Dec. 21, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 -I mAMETER wwf A. F. VICTORSept. 5, 19.50

SPINDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed. Dec. 2l, 1945 @me uwnull/1111111111111,"

possible to disconnect the driving mechanism of the storage reel, duringprojection, and of the take-up reel, during rewinding, whereby the reelfrom which lm is delivered may be free to turn and release film atWhatever rate is required, thereby avoiding the problem of over-runningso far as the lm delivery reel is concerned. The lmreceivingreeLhowever, is always necessarily driven at a suicientlyfrapidrate to receive the film thereon as rapidly as it is delivered theretowhen the same is empty, as at the commencement of film projection, or atthe commencement of the rewinding operation, if the take-up reel be adriven reel during the rewinding operation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the projecting mechanism isrequired, under progressively increasing tension, to "draw film from adriven storage reel, as the same becomes empty; while the take-up reelis required to draw the iilm Yfrom the projecting mechanismunderprogressively decreasing tension, as Vthe take-up reel becomes lled.During rewindng operations, ilm is rewound initially relatively loosely`upon the storage reel, and latterlyY with progressively increasingtension, as the storage reel becomes full yand the take-up reelbecomesempty.

As a consequence ofthe foregoing inherent character of reels driven at asubstantially constant speed ratio, the iilm rewound on a storage reeltends to be loosely wound at the center of the reel and tightly packedin itsouter portions. This is true whether the take-up reel is driven oris idle during the rewinding operation. If the reel is driven, thedriving meansthen in openation at relatively slowk speed, serves as abrake. If the reel is idle, its inertiahas a braking action; Duringprojection, nlm delivered from the storage reel to the projector isdrawn from the relatively tightly packed outer portions of the storagereel under relatively light tension and from the looselywoundrcentralportions under relatively greater tension, if the storagereel be a driven reel, *thus tending to tighten the loosely Awoundcentral turns, the one upon the other, as Vfilm is drawn from thestorage reel. During rewinding, also, the loosely wound outer lm turnson the take-upreel are returned under relatively slight tension to. thestorage reel and Wound relatively loosely on thercentral portionsthereof. Increasing lm tensionr during rewinding, however, tends `towind each succeeding coil of lm more and more tightlyon-the storage reeland tends to compress and tighten the previously and more looselywound-turns, theV one upon the other. As a result of the foregoingunequal tightening eiiects, progressively increasing on one reel anddecreasing. on the other, film is subject to rapid deterioration throughscratching, tearing and otherdamage. Appreciable belt slippage, also, isnecessary at -all times during lm projection, although slippage isnegligible when the take-up reel is empty, and is negligible during theinitial period of iilm delivery from a full storage reel. Belt slippageis also appreciable during rewinding, being negligible in both reelsonly during the` initial stages of the Vrewinding operation. Beltslippage tends to break or otherwise deteriorate-the driving belts.

An important object of the present invention is gtoprovide reel carryingmeans to enable iilm to be reeled under substantially uniform tensionconditions; a further object being to provide reel carrying spindlemeans which allows the reel to turn at varying speeds, without undue orappreciable belt slippage.

Another important object is to provide a reel carrying spindle whichwill facilitate slippage when the reel is turning at slow speed, ascompared. with slippage when the reel is rotating at high speed.

Another important object is. to provide a spindle embodying clutchmechanism allowing reel carrying portions of the spindle to slip andturn angularly with respect to pulley connected portions thereof.

Another important object is to provide a spindle having a drivingportion, a reel carrying portion, and an interconnecting clutchmechanism, allowing relative angular slippage of the carrying -portionwith respect to the driving portion.

A further important object is to provide a compact andl simplified slipclutch mechanism for drivingly interconnecting a reel carrying spindleportion with a driving member; a still further object being to provideYuid means withinj the clutch mechanism serving, through centrifugalaction, to aiiect the slipping characteristics of the clutch as afunction of its rotary speed.l

The foregoing ,and numerous other important objects, advantages, andinherent functions of the invention will become apparent as the same ismore fully understood from the following description, which, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment of the invention. 1

Referring to the drawings: Y

Fig. l is a perspective view of cinematograph iilm projecting apparatusembodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a reel illustrating the kinematicrelationships involved during the winding and unwinding of film on thereel;V

Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views oi storage and take-up reelsshowing relationships during filmprojection and rewinding;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through a reel spindle embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 6 is a view showing a modified construction embodying theinvention; and

Figs. 7 land 8 are sectionalviews respectively taken on lines and 3-8 inFig. 6.

To illustrate the invention, the drawings show av cinematograph filmprojector. Il which may comprise any conventional or preferredprojection mechanism. As shown, the projecting mechanism is enclosed ina box orV casing l2 and has a pair of upstanding arms 13' for carrying alm storage reel id on one of the arms, in position,

to deliver lm to the projection mechanism, and,

a take-up reel i5 on the other Aarm-jin position to receive projectedfilm,l from the mechanism. The reels are mounted onsuitable supportmeans carried by the arms and driven by eens is @0nl nected with theprojecting mechanism casing I2.

The end of the film il on the storage reel I4 may be 'threaded throughthe projecting mechain the nism and connected on the hub of the take-upknurled, ,orl otherwise roughened, to permit A'the i parts to beythreadedly interconnected, as by grasping the knurled rim of the member38 and. threading the member 39 therein, asby means of a wrench appliedto the wrench engaging portions 45. i.

`The reel carrying spindle 31 may comprisea shaft having a cylindricalhead 46 adapted to extend through the opening 43 and into the casingAformed by the threadedlyV interconnected members 38 and 39. `The head46 of thespindlev carries a preferably metal clutch disk 41 vwithin thecasing 36, said disk 41 being formed with a central opening seated upona shoulder formed at the end of the head 46 and secured in place bypeening the end edges of the head over upon the disk 41. VThe clutchcasing 36 also encloses a pair of Yfriction disks 48 and 49, which maycomprise suitable fiber orpther clutch Vplate material. The disks 48 and49 extend within said casing on opposite sides of the clutch disk 41,the\ disk 4,8 having a peripheral flange extending around the marginaledge of the disk 41. The spindle 31 has a reel carrying portionextending outwardly lof the clutchcasing 36. This reel carryingportionis preferably cylindrical, as shown at 5B, but has a non-circular,preferably square. shouldered portion 5| adjacent the head 46 andadapted to intert with a corresponding nonlil circular opening of thereel, to drivingly'fengage a@ the same. The cylindrical spindle portion59, however, is preferably formed with an axial cavity, opening at theend of the spindle, said end being diametrally slotted to receive aholding finger 52 which is mounted on a pin'53 for pivotal movement atthe slotted end of the spindle. The finger 52 may be moved into axialalinement with the spindle in order to allowy a reel to be mounted onorremoved from the spindle; and

the finger may also be turned in either direction 4o on its pivot pininto position at right angles with respect to the axis of lthe spindle,in order to retain a mounted reel thereon. The finger may be held in anyof its adjusted positions by means of. a latch comprising a ball 54mounted within 45 the spindle cavity immediately behind the fingerv52,said ball beingy yieldingly pressed in the cavity ytoward and intolockingA engagement with notched portions of thenger, as bymeans of aspring in said cavity, for the purpose of yieldso ingly holding the ngerin any of its `adjusted positions.

The casing 35 is preferably charged with fluid,

such as lubricating oil, and, if desired, a suitable annular packingring 55, havingV generally L -shapedusectional configuration, may beenclosed within the casing V36 around the head portion 4d-of the reelmounting shaft, to prevent liquid seepage along said head and` throughthe casing opening 43'.- The lubricatingliquidproze metes slippage oftli'euclutch disk 41 with respect to the plates 48 and. 4S and mayoperate, to vra limited extent, as a fluid drive medium allowing theclutch to slip more freely atlow speed and less freely at high speeds,to accommodate the'es variable slip requirements during the reeling andunreeling Vof cinematograph lm.

As an alternate arrangement, as shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, the pulleymeans 34 and driving belts IE may be replaced by ,other suitable driving70 means such as Ya preferably bevelled gear l56 on the yshaft 2l, inplace of the pulley means 34, and meshing with a Y cooperatingpreferably bevelled gear 51V on a drive shaft 58, journaled on the` armi3 andadapted to be driven bythe pro- 75 8 jector mechanism. In such anarrangement, .the drive shaft 58 is driven by the projector mechanismand in turn drives the reel. spindle 31- through the driving connectionafforded by the l bevelled gears'56 and 51, the shaft 2l, and the.

clutch means 3'6.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantageswill be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it isobvious that numerous changes may be made in the form,

construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of itsattendant advantages, the form herein disclosed being a? preferredembodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as followsz.

l. A'reel support structure comprising bearing means, a stub shaftmember turnably mounted in said bearing means, a driving wheel on said4shaft, a reel mounting stem member in axial alinement with said stubsha1" t in position to support a reel thereon, and slip clutch meansdrivingly interconnecting said stub shaft and mounting stem members,said slip clutch means comprising a shell and a cover threadedlyinterconnected with said shell to form a cylindrical casing, a clutchplate secured in said casing, and a clutch disk enclosed within saidcasing in posi-v tion to frictionally and slippingly engage said clutchplate, said disk and plate being disposed in facing relationship betweensaid shell and cover, said shell being secured on one of said membersand said disk being drivingly secured to said other member through a`central opening in said cover.

2. A reel support structure comprising bearing means, a stub shaftmember turnably mounted in said bearing means, a driving wheel on saidshaft,

a reel mounting stem member in axial alinement with said stub shaft inposition to support a reel thereon, slip clutch means drivinglyinterconnecting said stub shaft and mounting stem members, said slipclutch means comprising a shell and a cover threadedly interconnectedwith said shell to form a cylindrical casing adapted to containlubricating oil, a clutch plate secured in said casing, and a clutchdisk enclosed within said casing in position to f rictionally andslippingly engage said clutch plate, said disk and plate being disposedin facing relationship between said shell and cover, said shell beingsecured on one of said members and said disk being drivingly secured tosaid other member in position extending through a, central opening insaid cover, and means Ato seal said opening against the escape of oilaround the member extending therethrough.

3. A reel support structure comprising a pair of rods and sheet metalclip means rigidly securing said rods in spaced apart parallelrelationship means drivingly interconnecting said stub shaft andmounting stem members, said slip clutch means comprising a shell and acover threadedly interconnected with said shell to form a cylindricalcasing, a clutch plate secured in said casing, and a clutch diskenclosed within said Ycasing in position to frictionally and slippinglyengage said clutchrplate, said-shelllbeing secured `on one ofy Y inposition extending a'fsansav ssaiid imemb'ers arid said -v`disk ''being-vdrivingly fsecured '-to' said 'other' member in position/extend'- in'gthrough -afcentral` opening in said cover.

A reel supportJ structure comprising'"bearing lmeans, .a-fstub -shaftmember` turnably *mounted ELin said be'aringnieans `and having portionsex- -Ltending outwardly of said bearing'mean'sat the V"opposite --ends-thereofy-a 'driving wheel on -said shaft, fat one Pside'ofsai'dibearing means, a reel mounting `Vstem'member-in axial alinementwith isaid stubsha'ft-in positioni'to'support a reel'therefon, `vandslip "clutch means l"drivingly interconnecting said mounting stem memberwith lsaid stub Sshaft member 4at the side of the bearing means remotefrom said wheel, Vsaid slip clutch means comprising a `shell and coverand threaded fmeans adjustablyintereonnecting said cover with said shellto form ac'ylindrical casing, a clutch plate securedin said casing, anda clutch disk enclosed vithin said casing in position to frictionallyand slippingly fengage said clutch plate, said shell ll'.\ein`gsecuredfon one of vsaid membersandsaid disk being drivingly secured to saidother lmember in` position "extending through.'acentral opening in saidcover.

'"5. A reel support-structure comprising Abearing `means, a stub shaftmember turnably mountedin saidbearing means and having portionsextendingoutwardlyof said bearing `means at vthe opposite ends thereof, adrivingfwheel `formingfabelt pulley-on-said shaft, at one side vrof said.bearing means, 'a reel mounting stem member in axial .alinement withsaid stub shaft in position to support a reel thereon, and slip clutch.means drivingly interconnecting said mounting v`stem member #with saidstub shaft member .at the side Yof the bearing means -remote from saidWheel, said slip clutch means comprising a shell and a cover andthreaded means adjustably interconnecting said cover with said shell toform a cylindrical casing, a clutch plate secured in said casing, and aclutch disk enclosed within said casing in position to frictionally andslippingly engage said clutch plate, said shell being secured on one ofsaid members and said disk being drivingly secured to said other memberin position extending through a central opening in said cover.

6. A reel support structure comprising a pair of rods and sheet metalclip means rigidly securing said rods in spaced apart parallelrelationship to form a support arm, bearing means, a stub shaft memberturnably mounted in said bearing means and having portions extendingoutwardly of said bearing means at the opposite ends thereof, a drivingwheel on said shaft, at one side of said bearing means, said wheelproviding beveled gear teeth, a driving shaft turnably mounted inbearings carried by said clip means, a beveled driving pinion on saiddriving shaft in position to drivingly engage the teeth of said wheel, areel mounting stem member in axial alinement with said stub shaft inposition to support a reel thereon, and slip clutch means drivinglyinterconnecting said mounting stem member with said stub shaft member atthe side of the bearing means remote from said wheel, said slip clutchmeans comprising a shell and a cover and threaded means adjustablyinterconnecting said cover with said shell to form a cylindrical casing,a clutch plate secured in said casing, and a clutch disk enclosed withinsaid casing in position to frictionally and slippingly engage saidclutch plate, said shell being secured on one of said members and saiddisk being f`drivingly*secured' to said other member" imposi- `secured'together iny facingrelation to clamplrglyreceivethe rods therebetweensaid plateshaving registering annularly -grooved `portions'form-ingei.torio ring structure in Said clip, `bearingfmcans isupported fon saidfclip within said "ring structure,

fastubfv-shaftturnably mountedv in said bearing .means and havingportions "extending vfu'utwardl'y of `saidbearing'mea'ns 'at vtheVoppositeferfds thereof, `a driving 'wheel -on `v'said shaft, "on fone`side 'ofrsaidbearin'g means, a reel mounting 'stemIinfaxial:'ali'nement .with said 'stub shaft in-posi- #tion'todeta'chably'support a reel thereon Land Sslip clutch imeans drivinglyV-interconnecting said -mounting stemfmember with Asaid "s'tiib shaft'member on the' side'ofthe bearingA -rneans'remte from'said wheel.: '8,.Aireel ksupport 'structure' for cine'matographic. apparatuscomprisingha pair-:of 'rods 'and Ia'sheet metal clip rigidly'securingsaidiro'ds rin spacediapartparalll relationshipVi to vv.form iafsup'-:.port arm, saidf'clip'l'comprising cooperating `plates :securedItogether in facing relation' to fclam'piifigl'y freceivethe vrodstherebetween, said plates'ha" "g 'registeringannularly groovedportionsformin lto'ric 'ring structure vin` said "clipj bearingimeans 'supportedon said clipwithinisaid ring structure, a fstub` vshaft turnably mountedin said fibearn'g means :and :having portions extending outwardlyA'ofsaid Abearing 'means at kthe 'opposite ends `there-- of, a, drivingwheel forming a belt pulley on said shaft, on one side of said bearingmeans, a reel mounting stem in axial alinement with said stub shaft inposition to detachably support a reel thereon, said mounting stem havingmeans thereon operable to secure a reel on said stem, and slip clutchmeans drivingly interconnecting said mounting stem member with said stubshaft member at the side of the bearing means remote from said wheel,said slip clutch means comprising a shell and a cover and threaded meansadjustably interconnecting said cover with said shell to form acylindrical casing, a clutch plate secured in said casing, and a clutchdisk enclosed Within said casing in position to frictionally andslippingly engage said clutch plate, said shell being secured on one ofsaid members and said disk being drivingly secured to said other memberin position extending through a central opening in said cover.

9. A reel support structure for cinematographic apparatus comp-risingpair of rods and a sheet metal clip rigidly securing said rods in spacedapart parallel relationship to form a support arm, said clip comprisingcooperating plates secured together in facing relation to clampinglyreceive the rods therebetween, said plates having registering annularlygrooved portions forming a toric ring structure in said clip, bearingmeans supported on said clip within said ring structure, a stub shaftturnably mounted in said bearing means and having portions extendingoutwardly of said bearing means at the opposite ends thereof, a drivingwheel providing beveled gear teeth on said shaft, at one side of saidbearing means,

a driving shaft turnably mounted in bearings carried by said clip, abeveled driving pinion on said driving shaft in position to drivinglyengage theteeth of saidwheel, a reel mounting n,stem

;in axial-alinement with said stublshaft in position to detachablysupport a reel thereon, said Amounting stem having means thereonoperable to secure a reel on said stem, and slip clutch means drivinglyinterconnecting said mounting .stem member with said stub shaft memberat theside of the bearing means remote from said wheel, said slip clutchmeans comprising a shell `and a cover and threaded means adjustablyinterconnecting said cover with said shell to form a cylindrical casing,a clutch plate secured in said casing, anda clutch disk enclosed withinsaid casing inA position to frictionally and slippingly engage saidclutch plategsaid shell being secured ,on one of said members and saiddisk being driv- -inglyV secured to said other member inposition'extending through a central opening in said cover.

10. A reel support structure for cinematographic apparatus comprising apair of rods and la sheet metal clip rigidly securing said rodsin spacedapart parallel relationship to form a support arm, said clip comprisingcooperating plates secured together in facing relation to clamping- .lyreceive the rods therebetween, said plates having registering annularlygrooved portions forming a torio ring structure in said clip, bearing.means supported on said clip within said ring position to detachablysupport a reel thereon, said mounting stem having means thereon operableto secure a reel on said stem, and slip clutch means 12 drivinglyinterconnecting said stub shaft and mounting stem members, said slipclutch means comprising a cylindrical casing adapted to containlubricating oil and secured on one of said members, a clutch platesecured in said casing, and a clutch disk enclosed Within said casing inposition to frictionally and slippingly engage said clutch plate, saiddisk extending outwardly of said casing through an axial opening in awall thereof and being drivingly secured to said other member, and meansto seal said opening against the escape of oil around the memberextending therethrough.

ALEXANDER F. VICTOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 458,408 Schwanhausser Aug. 25,1891 773,005 Dreses Oct. 25, 1904 1,240,560 Gilmore Sept. 18, 191'71,277,559 Emory Sept. 3, 1918 1,302,701 Parret May 6, 1919 1,425,305White Aug. 8, 1922 1,525,990 Howell Feb. 10, 1925 1,898,469 Tensor Feb.21, 1933 2,083,646 Fuller June 15,1937 2,087,863 Sharp July 20, 19372,343,961 Del Valle Mar. 14, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Datel f19,710 Australia of 1934 638,968

Germany Nov. 26, 1936

